Day 1 – Las Vegas
Welcome to the neon city in the Nevada desert. This brash, iconic city offers families the chance to explore the over-the-top resort hotels, see a show, shop or simply indulge in a spot of people watching. A welcome meeting will be held at approximately 18:00 in the evening with free time afterwards to explore the cityscape at night and see the neon lights in all their glory.
ACCOMMODATION – Hotel included
MEALS – Meals paid locally
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – Roller coasters US$25-$40
Day 2-3: Route 66 – Grand Canyon (South Rim)
Leaving Las Vegas, your first stop is a dose of real Americana as you travel along an original section of Route 66, stopping at the quirky town of Seligman. Pick up some souvenirs for friends back at home and treat the kids to an ice cream from the classic Snow Cap Diner before arriving at the mighty Grand Canyon.
Your family will never forget the moment they lay eyes on one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. For the ultimate thrill ride, take a scenic helicopter flight or a nature walk along the rim for some spectacular views.
Get your family hooked on being in the great outdoors with a great hike to Ooh Aah Point or Plateau Point for incredible views looking both up and down.
After watching a glorious sunset make sure you head over to the Grand Canyon IMAX Theater for an incredible audio-visual experience and learn all about how the canyon was discovered and how the area has developed.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS – Breakfast (x1), lunch (x2) and dinner (x2) included
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – Helicopter flight US$284, IMAX Theater US$15
Day 4: Monument Valley
You’ve seen the movie; now it’s your chance to run like Forrest Gump on the iconic stretch of road en route to Monument Valley! Discover the hidden secrets of this tribal land and learn more about the Native American culture and way of life on your included Navajo guided backroads tour. Arriving in this iconic landscape will have you thinking that you have stepped right into a Western movie set, with the towering red rock buttes and mesas. There is nothing quite as amazing as a night sky in Monument Valley.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS – Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park – Kodachrome Basin State Park
On the road again, and your next stop is at one of the most photographed places on the Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend. Believe us, it is nothing short of impressive.
Next up is Bryce Canyon National Park with its fascinating natural amphitheatre of pink, orange and white sandstone spires, known locally as ‘hoodoos’. There are a variety of scenic overlooks and trails that range from easy to moderate in difficulty, so depending on what you and your family are after, there’s plenty of choice!
The Navajo Trail enables you to hike right in amongst the unique rock formations. Some of you may prefer to hike on the Queens Garden Trail or to remain on the rim and photograph the ever-changing colours as the sun makes its way across the wide-open sky. Transfer to the campsite at Kodachrome Basin State Park, named after a National Geographic Society exhibition which came to the park and was amazed by the changing colours of the sandstone chimneys, creating a beautiful spectacle as the sun crossed the sky. This quiet campsite will allow you to experience true desert life and enjoy some quality time with the family.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS –Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – Western horseback riding US$65-$90
Day 6: Zion National Park
The next destination is Zion National Park, named by the early Mormon settlers of Utah who thought of it as their ‘promised land’.
Some of the best hiking in this desert terrain of Southwest USA can be found here in and around the fertile Virgin River Gorge. With an early arrival and two nights here, you’ll have plenty of time to explore after setting up camp. The perfect thing to do today is walk along a section of the Virgin River called ‘The Narrows’, if weather conditions permit. In the Narrows, dry feet are not an option as you are hiking through the Virgin River in between towering walls, and as the day heats up, the cool water and shadows of the canyon can be very pleasant indeed and you and your family can enjoy a quick dip.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS – Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Day 7: Zion National Park
You have a full day to further explore the delights of Zion National Park. Hire a bike or enjoy some western horseback riding. For the more adventurous, there’s the challenging option to ascend 450 metres (1,500 ft.) to experience unbeatable 360-degree panoramic views from the top of Angels Landing.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS – Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – Western horseback riding US$45-$90
Day 8: Zion National Park – Great Basin Desert
Enjoy a free morning in Zion National Park before journeying down the Extraterrestrial Highway and overnighting in the Great Basin Desert.
ACCOMMODATION – Motel included
MEALS – Breakfast and lunch included
Day 9-11: Rachel – Yosemite National Park
Today you make a stop in at the town of Rachel and the Little A’Le’ Inn, a tribute to all things alien! Then you’ll head from east to west traversing the 3,031 metre-high (9,943 ft.) Tioga Pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. You’ll travel past the eerie shores of Mono Lake before arriving at Yosemite National Park, which sits nestled in the Sierra Nevada’s of Northern California. Here, green forest meets towering granite walls. After a visit to see the amazing Giant Sequoia trees, Yosemite Valley beckons. Here you may cycle, take a dip in the Merced River or wander the meadows.
Hike the Mist Trail, arguably one of the most outstanding day hikes from Yosemite Valley. The trail has some superb views as you walk across picturesque bridges up towards Vernal Falls, where the spray from the falls will cool you down on a hot summer’s day and create rainbows along the trail. Continue walking to reach another beautiful waterfall, Nevada Falls, and return via the John Muir Trail for perfect afternoon views and – if you’re lucky – you may even spot Black Bears and coyotes that sometimes roam the surrounding areas. Junior Ranger programs are available at most national parks, which give kids and families the opportunity to uniquely explore and learn about the national parks and how they can help protect them today and into the future.
ACCOMMODATION – Camping included
MEALS – Breakfast (x3), lunch (x3), dinner (x3) included
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – Bike rental US$12-$34, Float trip on the Merced River US$31
Day 12: Yosemite National Park – San Francisco
Make your way through California’s historic gold country to the ‘City by the Bay’, or San Francisco as it’s more commonly known! Enjoy a brief orientation tour around the city including a close-up view of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the chance to walk across it.
Completed in 1937, this iconic suspension bridge stretches for 2.7 km (1.7 miles) and is probably the most photographed bridge in the world. Unfortunately, your tour must come to an end but if you decide to stay on, there’s plenty to keep you entertained but the best introduction to the city is to jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or book one of our Urban Adventure tours to introduce you to the fascinating neighbourhoods. If you want to visit Alcatraz on this day, you’ll need to book your ticket online in advance with Alcatraz Cruises.
This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to take fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.
ACCOMMODATION – None included. Tour ends at 17:00 hrs
MEALS – Breakfast and lunch included
